Membership in the National Trial Lawyers organization is obtained through special invitation only to those attorneys who exemplify superior qualifications, reputation, influence, stature, and profile as trial lawyers, both civil plaintiff and criminal defense.

Today as we reflect on the tragic events which took place 11 years ago, we are relieved to learn of the news that the Federal Government is finally acknowledging what we, as representatives of many of these injured workers have suspected for many years- that exposure to the toxins around Ground Zero can cause cancer. We pray for all those who are sick and have died and for those who will continue to become ill as a result of this horrible attack.

The following article from NBC New York written by Brynn Gingras and Greg Cergol details the new coverage that those suffering from cancer are entitled to receive:

The federal government will now officially add dozens of cancers to the list of illnesses linked to the Sept. 11 attacks, making those who lived or worked near ground zero and later became sick eligible for financial payments, authorities said Monday.

Fourteen categories of cancers, a total of 50, will be added to the illnesses covered in the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health announced.

The Zadroga Act — named after NYPD Detective James Zadroga, who died at 34 after working at ground zero — passed into law two years ago. Despite the hundreds of sick responders, the act did not cover cancer because of a supposed lack of scientific evidence linking cancer to ground zero toxins.

“We have urged from the very beginning that the decision whether or not to include cancer be based on science,” said Mayor Bloomberg in a statement, adding that the decision “will continue to ensure that those who have become ill due to the heinous attacks on 9/11 get the medical care they need and deserve.”

Eighteen-year FDNY veteran Jeff Stroehlein spent several weeks working at ground zero, and is certain the brain cancer he has been fighting for a year is linked to his work there. The father of three welcomes the financial help the federal government will now be offering first responders with cancer, but says it should have arrived much earlier.

“The fact is, the government has turned their back for 11 years now,” he said. “I saw no politicians digging on the pile. If you saw a politician that was sick or on the pile, or their kid was sick or on the pile, this would have been solved months ago.”

Two more scientific studies are expected to be released shortly, which will determine whether more cancers should be added to the list, Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand said in a statement.

“Today’s announcement is a huge step forward that will provide justice and support to so many who are now suffering from cancer and other illnesses,” they said.

About 400 residents and rescue workers have died from cancer since 9/11, according to the New York Post.

With cancer included in the program more victims are likely to seek compensation, which could cause individual awards to be reduced as officials divide up the $2.77 billion fund.

“They’re going to add cancers, but are they going to add more money to the fund?” Thomas “T.J.” Gilmartin, who suffers from lung disease and sleep apnea, said to the Post. “It’s crazy. Every time, we gotta fight. It’s two years since Obama signed that bill, and nobody’s got 10 cents.”

Stroehlein is now cancer-free and feeling well. But at 48, after being forced to give up a job he loved and facing an uncertain future, he’s focusing on speaking to lawmakers for his lost comrades, many of whom lost their life savings in their fight to survive after 9/11.

He’s also troubled by the uncertainty future first responders may face.

“Do you want to give up your life for a government that turned around and didn’t support you?”

The College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers honors attorneys who have distinguished themselves in their practice in the field of workers’ compensation. Members have been nominated for the outstanding traits they have developed in their practice of twenty years, or longer, representing plaintiffs, defendants, serving as judges, or acting for the benefit of all in education, overseeing agencies and developing legislation. Inductees have convinced their peers, the bar, bench and public that they possess the highest professional qualifications and ethical standards, character, integrity, professional expertise and leadership. They have a commitment to fostering and furthering the objectives of the College and have shown significant evidence of scholarship, teaching, lecturing, and/or distinguished published writings on Workers’ Compensation or related fields of law. In addition to these characteristics, a Fellow is expected to display the following traits in their day to day practice of workers’ compensation and related fields:

A Fellow stands out to newer attorneys as a model of professionalism in deportment and advocacy;

A Fellow has earned the respect of the bench, opposing counsel and the community;

A Fellow displays civility in an adversarial relationship;

A Fellow avoids allowing ideological differences to affect civility in negotiations, litigation and other aspects of law practice;

A Fellow demonstrates an active interest in resolving issues;

A Fellow is a student of the law;

A Fellow has a thirst for knowledge in all areas of the law that affects their representation of their clients in Workers’ Compensation or their duties in adjudicating cases brought before them;

A Fellow actively participates in the state, local and/or National Bar.

All Fellows take the following Oath.

“By accepting your Fellowship in the College you commit yourself to life long dedication to the maintenance of the highest standards of professional conduct, and scholarly pursuits; absolute integrity with clients, opponents, colleagues and the bench; to excellence in the presentation of law and fact designed to produce to the trier of fact and the decider of law the most reasoned of result; and to a demeanor which manifests respect for the legal process and its participants.”

About Our Team

This blog is written by the attorneys of Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP, as well as our distinguished colleagues from across the country. Our firm is a full service Law Firm that has been representing the injured person and worker for over 80 years. We have individual departments and specialists concentrating in serious personal injury cases, workers’ compensation claims, occupational disease claims, social security claims and various other matters such as estate planning and state and municipal disability claims. Our attorneys are selected as Super Lawyer magazine Super Lawyers year after year. In 2009 and 2010 our firm had 100% of the Super Lawyers named in Workers’ Compensation in the New York metro area. For more information about our firm and our attorneys, please visit our firm website.

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